Five adventurous artists to catch at GALA

From psychedelic bass pressure to future-facing club music, leftfield electronics and soundsystem weight, these are five names bringing fresh energy to this year’s lineup.

CCL

In a world of DJing where genres have been melted away by the possibilities within the technology, CCL is a clear frontrunner. Their meticulous approach to melting between tempos and energies is guided by instinct and artistic expression, but for every innovative twist and daring blend the dancefloor remains the top priority. Their self-styled ‘sub glow’ sound celebrates a psychedelic, supple sort of bass music, but it’s purposefully broad reference point to allow for all kinds of euphoric twists and mysterious turns, ensuring no record sounds the same and every dancer gets swiftly scooped up in the sensory soup.

Objekt

Splicing and dicing his way through the best of dance music culture, Objekt’s surgical approach to the craft of DJing serves as a serious lesson and an explosive party session all in one. The Berlin-based artist has sported a maverick streak ever since his first seismic moves around labels like Hessle Audio, capturing the fertile crossover where dubstep, techno, electro and electronica collide in a flourish of high-definition sound design. For all the smarts behind the sound, there’s an immediacy and playfulness that guides his hand, making him one of the best-loved spinners of his generation.

DjRUM

Operating at the outer edges of contemporary club music, Djrum moves between jungle, techno, broken rhythm and ambient space with a restless, instinctive flow. Since first emerging through releases on 2nd Drop and Houndstooth, he has built a body of work defined as much by emotional depth as technical precision. For all the intricacy in the mix, there is a surging emotional charge to his sound — stretching the dancefloor to breaking point one moment, then dissolving it into something weightless the next.

Verraco

Medellín beat maestro Verraco is at the forefront of a thrilling rush of contemporary club music rushing out of Latin America. The Colombian producer is but one node within a broad network of wildly original artists folding regional sounds and rhythms into modernist production, but his role in running TraTraTrax and Insurgentes has been instrumental in bringing these sounds to the world. As a result, his sets are brimming with upfront sounds from his peers, deftly criss-crossed with the kind of future-minded club music that defies boundaries whether it’s made in Bristol or Bogota.

Mia Koden

It’s no secret there’s a new generation of dubstep disciples taking the genre deeper and further than ever before, and Mia Koden shines as one of the leading exponents. Unbound by limitations, the London-based DJ and producer has cultivated an authoritative position through the strength of her rolling, rejuvenating productions and powerfully poised sets. Constantly using her platform to educate and champion the precious tradition of UK bass music, Koden is a shining example of how to honour the history while bringing vitality to the dance.

Tickets for GALA’26 are now on final release.